Are two blogs better than one?

Well, my job has changed (just in time for my office move). This is a good thing since it's pushing me further into what I love (creating broad programs and strategies that are not specific to any one business at Microsoft but impact how we hire people across the company) and away from what I have already done (lots of phone screens and working on reqs). It was just time for a change, especially since I have been doing this for a while. So along with the fact that my job description is changing, the scope of work is changing too. I'll also be working on programs for finance. If you've hung around here long enough to read my bio, you know that I started my recruiting career in the finance space, so I have to re-learn some things. Part of what I will and already do is work on processes. The other part is really a marketing job focused on attracting the folks that aren't looking (so now I'll be able to talk more about marketing from the standpoint of someone that's doing it...officially!). I feel pretty lucky to work in an organization where management has the flexibility to create a role based on my own personal strengths. The more I write about this..the more I think I have a lot for work to do!

Anyway, so here's my question...given the fact that I'm still going to be blogging, what do you think about this being a marketing and finance blog? Taking into account blogger fatigue if I were to have 2 blogs, of course....plus that fact that a lot of what I blog isn't specific to one discipline or the other. Would I lose readers if I blog about both? I was thinking about tweaking the design a bit anyway...what do you think?

Make the current set of categories subcats under a ‘marketing’ header, and then make another set of categories under a ‘finance’ header, then people who don’t want the finance side don’t have to read it.

I think arranging the categories is better than having two blogs. I would still be reading in any case. It is also going to be interesting to see some finance related posts as well. Good luck in your new role and in your new office.

Just rebrand your blog. I started out blogging about a specific topic and then spread out to include many things. I renamed my blog and now I enjoy it more since I feel I have the freedom to write about anything.

I read your blog not because it has anything to do with recruiting or marketing but because I find it interesting, and your writing style and content hold my interest. Reminds me a bit of Mark Cubans blog. He talks a lot of sports, but I find his topics on stocks just as interesting. I look forward to reading more about your new role.

Actually, there’s a few more things I thought of. May want to think about the volume of finance people vs. marketing people you would be looking at. May not have sufficient volume of readers to split things right away. My off-the-cuff feel for finance vs. marketing is that you would have less volume for finance (based on number of jobs). Anecdotally, I also think that I have run into much fewer finance people that read blogs compared to software developers and marketing people.

Heather, I will read anything you write, because I have come to expect this blog to be an eclectic mix of the fun, serious, witty, analytic, informative, and … miscellaneous.

But if you feel the need to apply focussed effort in one direction or another, or split the content, then you do what makes you happy. You really have no "responsibility" to anyone other than yourself to provide content that you feel should be here. Your readers will continue to be such.

I started a Blog with the intention of having a CAD software focused Blog but its spun off into all sorts of subjects. Thought about re-focusing and splitting but found just a category split is better. You are only managing one Blog/template etc so the time spent on managing multiple Blog’s can be used to create content.

One blog, two or more categories. Two blogs means some of us will miss something now and then. and more importantly, it would likley be more work for you to maintain. Blogging should be fluid and not involving ‘should I post this here or there’ kinda stuff. And I imagine you would end up linking back and forth a lot anyway.

And which one would the Apprentice go under? Even if they air another non swearing episode? 🙂

Firstly, congratulations on successfully rewriting/creating your own job description. It’s an opportunity that far too few people have — cherish it and the company that’s allowed you to do it (despite any other qualms I have with MS — being an open source type — everything i’ve heard has left me with the impression that they’re a great employer).

As for the blog, you don’t need me to tell you that it’s totally up to you and most of us will continue reading pretty much no matter what you do — bar ceasing to write at all. The category suggestion is a good one, though from my POV, I come here to read what Heather writes, full stop.

Marketing and Finance blog – hmmm – Wouldn’t that be something on the order of the laissez-faire capitalism and planned state economy blog 😛

Both are interesting subjects, I’d agree with the previous posters concerning simple categorization of the entries. That said, I’d vote for a third category for when something really is marketing AND finance, as those would probably be the most interesting. Those would either be the really insightful entries, or the great descriptions of bloody interbuilding warfare…..

I run multiple blogs, but those blogs are split between my corporate and personal identities – I wouldn’t split a blog on content issues, I’d leave that for when the speaker fundamentally changes, e.g. Heather the Microsoft Marketing and Finance blogger, and H@Home, the closet Linux fanatic and chronic slashdot poster 🙂

I write two blogs because I have (nostly) very different things to say in each blog. The hiring blog (in the link above) stays focused on hiring issues. The Managing Product Development blog is all over the map. Not everyone subscribes to both blogs.

How do you envision people using the blogs? What will you say that’s similar? What will be different?

I am actually excited that you will start blogging on finance related topics. I personally came from a Marketing and Finance background and education. My interest in reading your blog have just shot up 1000%. I hope you enjoy your new role @ Microsoft. Looking forward to your future blogs. Keep up the good work.

My vote would be to continue with on blog. I have enjoyed reading your blog for several months. I also just enjoy reading about just Heather and the various topics you write about. Thanks for all the insights.

I think adding a finance category within the same blog would be a better idea. Also, currently most of the MS interview/job blogs focus on technical and marketing areas (which they are supposed to) but as finance graduately plays a more important role in the company, it’s a good idea to provide additional guidance or topics to help these professionals in planning their career within the company.

Of course I do read blogs on special topics, but the charme of the blogospere to me is building relationships with people through reading their blogs, commenting, mailing, and even more. From very close connections to very loose ones.

I think the most interesting aspects of your blog are your comments about working at MS in general, and how it impacts your work in recuiting. I think this change affords you an interesting opportunity – it would be very interesting to hear your comments comparing and contrasting your experiences in trying to generate excitement around working at MS for two vastly different professions – what are the preconceptions for each group and how do you message to validate or re-direct them etc…

Overall – I don’t think the profession/skill set you are reciuting makes much difference at all – call the blog whatever you want, but keep it up –